Rolls-Royce offers to develop India's 5th-gen fighter jet engine with full IP rights
British aerospace giant Rolls-Royce has entered the race to develop an engine for India's AMCA stealth fighter, offering full IP rights and local co-development, setting up a contest with French defence firm Safran for one of the country's most strategic defence projects.
The race to develop the engine for India's ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme is gathering momentum, with British aerospace major Rolls-Royce offering to co-develop a next-generation fighter engine in India along with full intellectual property (IP) rights.
The proposal places Rolls-Royce in direct competition with French defence giant Safran, which has also offered to jointly develop an indigenous powerplant for India's fifth-generation stealth fighter programme.
According to Rolls-Royce, the proposed engine would be developed in India through a collaborative partnership, with ground testing targeted by 2032 and the first flight of the engine expected by 2034.
"The engine being offered for the AMCA programme could be developed in India, with ground testing targeted for 2032 and the first flight of the powerplant planned by 2034," Rolls-Royce Executive Vice President Sashi Mukundan said.
The offer is significant because it includes full IP rights for India, a long-standing requirement of New Delhi in major defence technology partnerships. Unlike conventional military engine agreements that often limit technology transfer, Rolls-Royce has proposed a broader collaboration covering design, engineering, testing, certification and future upgrades of the engine.
The proposal comes as India accelerates work on the AMCA programme, the country's first indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. While the initial AMCA Mk1 variant is expected to fly with the GE F414 engine, the more advanced AMCA Mk2 will require a more powerful indigenous engine in the 110-130 kN thrust class.
Safran, which has been engaged in discussions with India on fighter engine collaboration, has also proposed co-developing the AMCA's future engine. Sources told India Today TV that talks with the French company remain ongoing.
The Defence Ministry recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the indigenous AMCA project, opening participation to private industry. Three consortiums have been shortlisted for the programme: Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Forge with BEML.
The AMCA is expected to feature advanced stealth characteristics, internal weapons bays, supercruise capability, sensor fusion and next-generation avionics, making it India's most advanced combat aircraft project to date.
Officials estimate that the fighter could enter operational service around 2035, reflecting the complexity of developing and testing a fifth-generation combat aircraft and its associated technologies.
With both Rolls-Royce and Safran now competing to power the AMCA Mk2, the engine programme is emerging as one of the most strategically important technology decisions for India's future air combat capabilities.
The race to develop the engine for India's ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme is gathering momentum, with British aerospace major Rolls-Royce offering to co-develop a next-generation fighter engine in India along with full intellectual property (IP) rights.
The proposal places Rolls-Royce in direct competition with French defence giant Safran, which has also offered to jointly develop an indigenous powerplant for India's fifth-generation stealth fighter programme.
According to Rolls-Royce, the proposed engine would be developed in India through a collaborative partnership, with ground testing targeted by 2032 and the first flight of the engine expected by 2034.
"The engine being offered for the AMCA programme could be developed in India, with ground testing targeted for 2032 and the first flight of the powerplant planned by 2034," Rolls-Royce Executive Vice President Sashi Mukundan said.
The offer is significant because it includes full IP rights for India, a long-standing requirement of New Delhi in major defence technology partnerships. Unlike conventional military engine agreements that often limit technology transfer, Rolls-Royce has proposed a broader collaboration covering design, engineering, testing, certification and future upgrades of the engine.
The proposal comes as India accelerates work on the AMCA programme, the country's first indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. While the initial AMCA Mk1 variant is expected to fly with the GE F414 engine, the more advanced AMCA Mk2 will require a more powerful indigenous engine in the 110-130 kN thrust class.
Safran, which has been engaged in discussions with India on fighter engine collaboration, has also proposed co-developing the AMCA's future engine. Sources told India Today TV that talks with the French company remain ongoing.
The Defence Ministry recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the indigenous AMCA project, opening participation to private industry. Three consortiums have been shortlisted for the programme: Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Forge with BEML.
The AMCA is expected to feature advanced stealth characteristics, internal weapons bays, supercruise capability, sensor fusion and next-generation avionics, making it India's most advanced combat aircraft project to date.
Officials estimate that the fighter could enter operational service around 2035, reflecting the complexity of developing and testing a fifth-generation combat aircraft and its associated technologies.
With both Rolls-Royce and Safran now competing to power the AMCA Mk2, the engine programme is emerging as one of the most strategically important technology decisions for India's future air combat capabilities.
